Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Being someone who uses Skype constantly for both business and personal long distance and PC-to-PC phone calls, I got a Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype as a Christmas gift from a loved one who knows just how nerdy I am when it comes to new gadgets. I love them!

Unfortunately, I can only say that I *like* the new wi-fi phone from Belkin. Appearance-wise, it's terrific with a sleek black case, color screen and attractive key layout. It's a good, comfortable size and feels about like a stylish mobile phone. It comes with a USB cable for charging and software updates, as well as a regular power cord for charging. You can use the phone while it's connected to the charger, which is what I find myself doing a lot.

The sound quality is good and it connected right to my household wi-fi system once I punched in the security code. The controls are easy to access and use. I was quite excited to get going with it and used it for several days without incident.

Then it froze. No matter what I did, the buttons made no difference and the screen stubbornly stuck on 11:38 a.m. and no amount of prodding would break it free. I looked for some sort of reset button like you get with a Palm or other PDA-like device, but there isn't one. I finally decided that the only way to get the baby to reset would be to take out the battery and put it back in.

Thus, my next problem. The battery cover refused to budge. It was as if it had been super-glued shut. I pulled, pushed, yanked but it held firm. I had no other choice than to resort to the proverbial waste of time - support.

Yep, total waste of time. I tracked down Belkin support, filled out the form to inform them of my problem (frozen screen, stuck battery case) and got an answer from some clueless girl telling me I should go into the menu and use the "reset" function. Duh? The SCREEN IS FROZEN, honey! How the heck am I supposed to do that!

So, back to pulling, tugging and yanking on the battery cover. I finally managed to pry one corner up and get enough leverage to get the darned thing open without breaking it. I pulled the battery out, the phone reset and I was up and running again.

My next disappointment came when I stayed at a hotel that offered free wi-fi. I had hoped to use the phone to make some calls, but, alas, the hotel requires you to open their web page in a browser before you can connect to their access. That's all, just open their page in a browser - no inputting codes or anything. Just an open browser.

The Belkin phone has no Internet browser, a terrible oversight for a product that people will want to use at Internet cafes and the like. Not a smart move, Belkin.

Yes, the phone is supported by Boingo, which has hotspots here and there. In my area, my choices are a UPS Store or an RV park. Somehow I can't see myself hanging around those to make phone calls. I'm out of luck at Starbucks, hotels and anywhere without completely open wi-fi access.

Another minor peave is the lack of Skype chat support. My company uses Skype chat a lot during the business day, so I can't plan on using the Belkin Skype phone exclusively for business because there's no chat support. I understand that trying to do chat on that itsy bitsy keyboard is difficult, but people send text messages all the time on cell phones, so there should be support for chat. If nothing else, I'd like to be able to set the phone up to let people know that I don't have Skype chat, try me on AIM or whatever.

Anyway, don't think I'm totally unhappy with the Belkin Wi-Fi-Phone for Skype. I'm not. It's great to carry around the house with me when I'm not on the computer. It just means I have to switch back and forth between it and a Skype-enabled computer quite a bit. I guess my suggestion for those considering one is to say that it's great if you just want a wireless Skype phone for home, have no need for Skype chat and don't plan on trying to use it too many places outside your home network. It's a shame, but it probably won't work for you on the road or in your neighborhood Starbucks.

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Product Description:
Pre-loaded with Skype software and featuring the same Skype interface, the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone is ready to use with any wireless network. To make a call, simply use the intuitive on-screen color menu to locate your contact and view their online availability-exactly like you use Skype today. The Wi-Fi Phone is Skype-certified, which means that it adheres to all Skype's requirements to ensure that your Wi-Fi Phone experience is just like it is on your PC.

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Belkin Concealed Surge Protector Review

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(More customer reviews)I like the idea, but my two year old broke the thing 2 seconds out of the box.The tiny (and I mean tiny) little plastic hinges holding the door on don't stand a chance.On top of that, the plastic hinge that's supposed to hold the door closed doesn't have any strength, and my bundle of cords kept popping it open.I bought two of them so had an extra.Needless to say I'm keeping the thing now that I have it.It's a good idea, and mostly works, but could definitely use some stronger binding pieces.

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Product Description:
BELKIN BZ11123-10 11-OUTLET CONCELED SURGE PROTECTOR GROUNDS AC POWER THROUGH 11 SURGE-PROTECTED OUTLETS6 REGULAR, 4 BLOCKSPACE, 1 CONVENIENCE;ORGANIZES CABLES & KEEPS THEM OUT OF VIEW WITH A UNIQUE CLOSING COVER; DESIGNED TO SAFEGUARD ELECTRONICS, COMPUTERS & APPLIANCES;CORDS REMAIN ORGANIZED & SECURE IN THEIR SOCKETS WHILE OUTLETS STAY OUT OF REACH OF KIDS & PETS;PROVIDES 1 IN/2 OUT PHONE/FAX/MODEM PROTECTION;FEATURES 1 IN/1 OUT EACH FOR COAXIAL CABLE & ETHERNET PROTECTION ;$300,000 CONNECTED EQUIPMENT WARRANTY 11-OUTLET CONCELED SURGE PROTECTOR

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Belkin PureAV Home Theater 9-Outlet Surge Protector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this quality product at an introductory price with a $60 discount.Can't get any lower than that.

I was only interested in the modem and TV protection because another older Belkin power protection power bar is protecting the phone line.

My only worry prior to purchasing was the quality of the video signal to the HDTV and DVD recorders.The signal was clean.So, no worries there.

The sliding safety covers, 8 feet cord and sleek shape are great design features.

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Product Description:

The Belkin PureAV Home Theater 9-Outlet Surge Protector offers:

Nine surge protected outlets.
2,655 Joules of surge protection.
Protection for coaxial cable and telephone lines.
A $250,000 Connected Equipment Warranty.

Protect your home theater investment with Belkin's PureAV Home Theater 9-Outlet Surge Protector, which provides nine outlets with complete, 3-line AC protection.


In addition to power outlets, coaxial cable and telephone lines are also protected. View larger. Advanced Surge Protection
The Belkin PureAV Surge Protector offers 2,655 joules of protection from surges, spikes, and lightning. In addition to AC power outlets, it also protects coaxial cable and pay-per-view/DSL/phone. A phone line splitter is built in.
The power switch integrates a 15-Amp circuit breaker with the power source. Indicator lights tell you that surge protection is working properly and your electrical wiring is properly grounded.
Smart Design
The surge protector is made of impact-resistant ABS which prevents scratches, dents, and rust. The Spoiler Cord System organizes the power cord to reduce clutter and a Sliding Safety Cover protects users and their children from electric shock. The heavy-duty power cord is eight feet long and has a right-angle plug at the end for convenience.
The Belkin PureAV Home Theater 9-Outlet Surge Protector is backed by a lifetime product warranty and a $250,000 Connected Equipment Warranty.
About PureAV
With the advent of new digital technologies and applications in the home-theater industry, PureAV--a brand of Belkin Corporation--provides solutions that seamlessly integrate the capabilities of your personal computer and mobile devices. Launched in 2004, PureAV integrates technology and high-quality performance with a modern, clean elegance previously obtainable only at a premium price. Relying on Belkin's 20 years of experience in manufacturing digital connectivity products, PureAV designs high-quality products that help to unleash the performance of all your audio/video devices.

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Belkin 8 Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Phone/Coaxial Protection and Extended Cord Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Brief evaluation
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This surge protector allows for up to 8 devices, including 4 'wide' DC adapters to be plugged in. It will protect them against power surges and, in addition, it can protect one phone line (RJ-11) and one coax wire if they are connected to pass through the Belkin surge protector.

My personal experience does validate the claims the manufacturer makes for the features that I am using and I can verify at this time. So far, I am happy and, in my opinion and based on its meeting real needs, good design, features and low price I recommend it as (in my view) one of the better it its class.

Soon after purchasing this unit I learned that for very little extra I could get and, in fact, I purchased the Belkin 12-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Phone/Ethernet/Coaxial Protection and Extended Cord whichhas 4 extra outlets and comes with a true RJ-45 Ethernet support.

More details
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The following are noteworthy, in my view.

Positives:

+ TRUE 8-outlet capacity. Unlike the traditional surge-protected power strips where one beefy AC adapter would cover 2 slots, Belkin's device truly accommodates 4 AC adapters and allows for 4 more plugs to fit in.
+ 'Protected' green light (must be on) provides assurance that the surge protector is operational. When the green light stays off it usually means that the surge protector 'expired' while protecting your device from a power surge and it must be replaced ASAP. [The Belkin warranty promises a free replacement under its warranty terms if you meet the requirements and, it seems, you pay for shipping the damaged unit to Belkin and, possibly, the new unit to you. That's likely to add up to the price of buying a new unit from Amazon and, if you factor in the hassle, probably not worth it.]
+ 'Not grounded' red light (must be off) will warn you when there's something wrong. Belkin's warranty won't apply if the light was on when your devices got fried. I don't know if for a fact but I assume they have a way of telling if that was the case.
+ 10 ft. long chord. This is very important to me and it was one of the criteria that had to be met when I ordered this item.
+ 90 degree plug allows you to easily plug it into a busy 4-plugs wall outlet.
+ Clip for cable management. I find it useful.
+ Thin (one inch) and flat shape. Stands well on a table or on the floor.
+ Telephone and coax cable pass through for surge protection. I don't use these but I'm surprised that something this inexpensive has them.

[NOTE: The 'phone' jacks are RJ-11 (phone), not RJ-45 (Ethernet). I heard of installations where RJ-11 connectors are used for Ethernet but that is not the norm.]

Negatives:

- Other than encouraging the unrealistic expectation that Belkin would pay you big $$$ on connected equipment warranty, I can't think of anything bad.

Warranty
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On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is a worthless warranty and 10 is one that's unbelievably generous, Belkin's should be somewhere around 2 or 3 - 95% of all warranties on devices this cheap are likely to be a 1.

They do promise to replace the item if it sacrifices itself while protecting your devices for as long as you can prove that you didn't do anything stupid, you have a purchase receipt and you ship the damaged item to Belkin at your own expense. It's not clear if they will charge you for shipping you back a new item. This may or may not be something worth pursuing. My impression is that you are not going to save a lot of money to get a 'free' replacement from Belkin and you are likely to waste a lot of time in the process. I'd probably buy myself a new one if the one I have now stopped working but it's good to know that they do have a 'lifetime' warranty. By 'lifetime' they mean the natural life of the product but 'natural life' is not precisely defined.

As far as being reimbursed for damage to devices that this surge protector was expected to protect, my impression is that you are not likely to get much if anything unless you can afford a lawyer and you are willing to sue. You have to meet a long series of requirements that are expressed in several paragraphs of techno-legalese.Rating
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I will have to repeat myself stating that, in my view, this is one of the better surge protectors in its class. It loses one star for the 'Ethernet' confusion. I could have and maybe I should have removed one more star from the over-hyped warranty statement printed on the box but... as sad as it is, everybody does it and Belkin's warranty is better than most so, I am awarding 4 stars on an item that inexpensively addressed real issues I had with protecting several devices clustered in a corner of my basement.

________________________________________________________
Disclaimer:
I would call myself the opposite of a Belkin shill. After reading the news stories concerning some Belkin employees' attempts at promoting their wares at this site via employee-written reviews and other unethical practices I tended to stay away from the Belkin brand. In this instance, the price and the promised features were hard to resist and, to my surprise, I am very happy with my purchase.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Belkin 8 Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Phone/Coaxial Protection and Extended Cord

Product Description:
You've got a lot of money invested in your home computer and peripherals, so you need to protect them. The Belkin BE108230-12 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Ethernet/Coaxial Protection is designed to give you the peace of mind you need in case a power disturbance hits your home.


Office Series surge protectors provide power protection for your workstations.

This Belkin 8-Outlet Surge Protector offers:

Premium power protection for both home and professional workstations
Protection for computers, peripherals, telephones, and more
A convenient right-angle plug, extra-long 12-foot cord, and a cord management clip
A $200,000 Connected Equipment Warranty

Keeping the Computers Running
As the demand for electricity to feed our hi-tech appetite increases, the likelihood of power interruptions and problems are also increasing. In addition to problems caused by the increasing severity of storms across the country, power experts are predicting that increasing power demand will soon put most major population centers at risk for severe power problems. As you know, power lulls and surges can severely damage your electronic equipment and even destroy your invaluable data.
The 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector provides premium power protection for both home and professional workstations. In addition to protection your computer, this protector is the ideal solution for all of your sensitive electronic equipment. It's built to protect professional workstations, laser printers, telephones, home-theater systems, and everyday household electronics. It even includes a connections to protect your telephone and coaxial lines.
The surge protection features advanced design elements, high-quality construction, and superior circuitry and components that combine to provide the most complete protection from power surges, spikes, and AC contamination. Each of the outlets include sliding safety covers, and a detachable cord-management clip will help you organize your cables and keep your desk clutter free. A right-angle plug helps you better manage your furniture by keeping the 12-foot cord close to the wall, and the protector's slim, sleek design will blend seamlessly with today's modern electronics and appliances.
This Belkin 8-Outlet Home/Office Surge Protector with Ethernet/Coaxial Protection is backed by a Belkin Lifetime Warranty and a $200,000 Connected Equipment Warranty.


Belkin delivers surge protection for general electronics, home appliances, and more.

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